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How active are adults with arthritis?
What problem was studied?
Physical inactivity can lead to many of the problems associated with arthritis,
including reduced joint mobility and muscle strength, fatigue, losses in
functional ability, and depression. Inactivity also increases the risk of heart
disease, diabetes and osteoporosis. On the other hand, research has shown that
physical activity can be safe in people with arthritis and result in reduced
pain, improved function and overall health. The Surgeon General has recommended
that every adult should accumulate at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity
activity (e.g. activity like brisk walking which causes small increases in your
breathing or heart rate) on at least 5 days per week or at least 20 minutes of
vigorous activity on 3 or more days per week. This study was aimed at
determining to what extent adults with arthritis are meeting these public health
recommendations.
Arthritis
Foundation-funded researchers involved in the study: Kevin R. Fontaine, PhD, and
Joan M. Bathon, MD, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, supported by
Arthritis Foundation Maryland Chapter Grants
What was done in the study?
This study utilized data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's
2001 Surveillance Survey conducted with 212,510 community-dwelling adults. The
survey data is compiled from telephone interviews done in each state and
includes information on preventive health practices and risk factors. The
researchers classified the respondents by age group, race and ethnicity, weight,
education level, smoking status, and whether they had been told by a doctor that
they had arthritis. They then analyzed the physical activity levels among these
subgroups.
What were the study results?
In this study population, 23% reported having doctor-diagnosed arthritis. Among
these, over 60% did not adequately meet the recommended frequency or duration of
physical activity, including nearly 24% who were not active at all. Inactivity
was more common among people with arthritis who were 65 years or older, African
American or Hispanic or had fewer than 8 years of education.
What's the relevance to people with
arthritis?
This study provides further evidence that the majority of adults with arthritis
are not sufficiently physically active. As Dr. Fontaine notes, "This study
provides ample evidence that we are not doing a good enough job promoting
physical activity among persons with arthritis. We need to ensure that people
with arthritis are not only made aware of the benefits of physical activity, but
also that they are prescribed some activity so they become more physically
active." Fortunately, the Arthritis Foundation provides many helpful
resources, including aquatic and land-based exercise programs (contact your
local chapter for more information).
Source: Arthritis and Rheumatism, February
2004 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=14872507
 Take
your first step in getting more physically active. Join walkers from
across the nation for the 2004
Arthritis Walk and raise funds to help fight arthritis. Find a walk
near you and sign
up today!
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